"I come to Europe on behalf of a new administration, an administration that is determined to set a new tone not only in Washington, but in America's relations around the world. That new tone is rooted in a strong bipartisanship to meet these common challenges. And we recognise that meeting these challenges is not a luxury but an absolute necessity."

ASKING MORE FROM PARTNERS

"As we seek a lasting framework for our common struggle against extremism, we will have to work cooperatively with nations around the world - and we will need your help. For example, we will be asking others to take responsibility for some of those now at Guantanamo as we determine to close it. Our security is shared. So, too, I respectfully suggest, is our responsibility to defend it."

"America will do more. That's the good news. The bad news is that America will ask for more from our partners as well."

AMERICA WILL LISTEN

"We believe that international alliances and organizations do not diminish America's power. We believe they help us advance our collective security, economic interests and our values. So we'll engage. We'll listen. We'll consult."

USING FORCE

"Our administration has set ambitious goals ... to advance democracy not through its imposition by force from the outside, but by working with moderates in government and civil society to build the institutions that will protect freedom."

"As America renews our emphasis on diplomacy, development, democracy and preserving our planet, we will ask our allies to rethink some of their own approaches - including their willingness to use force when all else fails."

IRAN

"The Iranian people are a great people. The Persian civilization is a great civilization. But Iran has acted in ways that are not conducive to peace in the region or to the prosperity of its people; its illicit nuclear program is but one of those manifestations. Our administration is reviewing policy toward Iran, but this much is clear: We will be willing to talk."

"We will be willing to talk to Iran, and to offer a very clear choice: continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation; abandon the illicit nuclear program and your support for terrorism and there will be meaningful incentives."

ISRAEL

"It is long time past for us to secure a just Two State solution. We will work to achieve it, and to defeat the extremists who would perpetuate the conflict. And, building on the positive elements of the Arab Peace initiative put forward by Saudi Arabia, we will work toward a broader regional peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors."

AFGHANISTAN

"The result must be a comprehensive strategy for which we all take responsibility that brings together our civilian and military resources that prevents a terrorist safe haven, that helps the Afghan people develop the capacity to secure their own future. But no strategy for Afghanistan, in my humble opinion, can succeed without Pakistan."

MUSLIM WORLD

"America will extend a hand, as the President has said, to those who unclench their fists."

"In the Muslim world, a small and I believe very small, number of terrorists are beyond the call of reason. We will and we must defeat them. But hundreds of millions of hearts and minds in the Muslim world share the values we hold dear. We must reach them."

NATO

"Our Alliance must be better equipped to help stop the spread of the world's most dangerous weapons, to tackle terrorism and cyber-security, to expand the writ of energy security and to act in and out of area more effectively."

MISSILE DEFENCE

"We will continue to develop missile defenses to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven and it is cost effective. We will do so in consultation with you our NATO allies and with Russia."

RUSSIA

"The last few years have seen a dangerous drift in relations between Russia and the members of our Alliance. It's time, to paraphrase President Obama, to press the reset button and to revisit the many areas where we can and should work together."

"We will not agree with Russia on everything. For example, the United States will not, will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. We will not recognize any nation having a sphere of influence. It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances. But the United States and Russia can disagree and still work together where our interests coincide and they coincide in many places."

Odysseus

02-07-2009, 06:26 PM

ASKING MORE FROM PARTNERS
"As we seek a lasting framework for our common struggle against extremism, we will have to work cooperatively with nations around the world - and we will need your help. For example, we will be asking others to take responsibility for some of those now at Guantanamo as we determine to close it. Our security is shared. So, too, I respectfully suggest, is our responsibility to defend it."
"America will do more. That's the good news. The bad news is that America will ask for more from our partners as well."
Translation: Get off your lazy, cowardly asses and start pulling your weight.

AMERICA WILL LISTEN
"We believe that international alliances and organizations do not diminish America's power. We believe they help us advance our collective security, economic interests and our values. So we'll engage. We'll listen. We'll consult."
Translation: We'll try to get you to do the right thing for months, just like we did with Iraq, and you saw how well that worked. But, there's got to be some of you who aren't on the take.

USING FORCE
"Our administration has set ambitious goals ... to advance democracy not through its imposition by force from the outside, but by working with moderates in government and civil society to build the institutions that will protect freedom."
Translation: There's got to be someone in the Middle East who is willing to talk instead of blowing themselves up. Let me know if you find them.

"As America renews our emphasis on diplomacy, development, democracy and preserving our planet, we will ask our allies to rethink some of their own approaches - including their willingness to use force when all else fails."
So you might want to rethink those defense budgets and pony up some troops, you Euro Eunichs.

ISRAEL
"It is long time past for us to secure a just Two State solution. We will work to achieve it, and to defeat the extremists who would perpetuate the conflict. And, building on the positive elements of the Arab Peace initiative put forward by Saudi Arabia, we will work toward a broader regional peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors."
Translation: We're going to follow the lead of the most intolerant, extremist Islamics in the Middle East, the Saudis, to help us broker a peace between secular Palestinians, fanatical terrorist Palestinians and Jews who have already given up land for peace and gotten nada. Wish us luck, and thank you for not laughing out loud as I said it.

AFGHANISTAN
"The result must be a comprehensive strategy for which we all take responsibility that brings together our civilian and military resources that prevents a terrorist safe haven, that helps the Afghan people develop the capacity to secure their own future. But no strategy for Afghanistan, in my humble opinion, can succeed without Pakistan."
Translation: No policy can succeed with Pakistan, either. But, we're going to open a dialogue, talk for four years, accomplish nothing, and then blame the next Republican administration when it blows up in our faces.

MUSLIM WORLD
"America will extend a hand, as the President has said, to those who unclench their fists."
"In the Muslim world, a small and I believe very small, number of terrorists are beyond the call of reason. We will and we must defeat them. But hundreds of millions of hearts and minds in the Muslim world share the values we hold dear. We must reach them."
Translation: We will call out to those hundreds o millions of moderates. Bueller...? Bueller...?

NATO
"Our Alliance must be better equipped to help stop the spread of the world's most dangerous weapons, to tackle terrorism and cyber-security, to expand the writ of energy security and to act in and out of area more effectively."
Translation: We'll be doing the work. You'll pretend to help.

MISSILE DEFENCE
"We will continue to develop missile defenses to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven and it is cost effective. We will do so in consultation with you our NATO allies and with Russia."
Translation: We will also ensure that henhouse security meets with the approval of the foxes.

RUSSIA
"The last few years have seen a dangerous drift in relations between Russia and the members of our Alliance. It's time, to paraphrase President Obama, to press the reset button and to revisit the many areas where we can and should work together."

"We will not agree with Russia on everything. For example, the United States will not, will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. We will not recognize any nation having a sphere of influence. It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances. But the United States and Russia can disagree and still work together where our interests coincide and they coincide in many places."
Translation: We have lots of things in common. For example, we all like hot blondes in mini skirts, and the Russians are exporting those like crazy.

Sonnabend

02-07-2009, 06:49 PM

Ahem, begging the Major's pardon:

Translation: We'll try to get you to do the right thing for YEARS, just like we did with Iraq, and you saw how well that worked. But, there's got to be some of you who aren't on the take.

Fixx0red :D

Odysseus

02-07-2009, 10:17 PM

Ahem, begging the Major's pardon:

Translation: We'll try to get you to do the right thing for YEARS, just like we did with Iraq, and you saw how well that worked. But, there's got to be some of you who aren't on the take.

Fixx0red :D

I stand corrected. :o

PoliCon

02-07-2009, 10:49 PM

spirit of "bipartisanship?" Is that what you call it when you lock the opposition out of the process like Pukelosi did?

Odysseus

02-09-2009, 01:08 PM

spirit of "bipartisanship?" Is that what you call it when you lock the opposition out of the process like Pukelosi did?

Democrats define bipartisanship as Republicans voting with Democrats, not Democrats voting with Republicans. When a Democrat votes with the Republicans, they expel him (a la Lieberman). Example: The Bush Tax cuts (H.R.1836, Conference Report) passed 58-33, with 2 present and 7 abstentions. Of the yea votes, 12 were Democrats, but this is not considered a bipartisan bill. Instead, it's attacked as "tax cuts for the rich" and condemned by many of the Democrats who voted for it. Meanwhile, a pork-laden atrocity that will cost more than any single government spending program in history, which passed the house without a single Republican supporting it, is going to be touted as bipartisan because a couple of RINOs will have broken ranks to end debate on it.

AmPat

02-10-2009, 05:01 AM

Out of a total potential pool of 534 votes, 3 were Republican. How in the name of zeus' butthole is this "Bipartisan?":confused:

There were 12 DIMS who crossed party lines in the House. Isn't that more "Bipartisan?"

Odysseus

02-10-2009, 01:09 PM

Out of a total potential pool of 534 votes, 3 were Republican. How in the name of zeus' butthole is this "Bipartisan?":confused:

There were 12 DIMS who crossed party lines in the House. Isn't that more "Bipartisan?"

Ah, but media world isn't about tawdry things like numbers and facts, it's about hope and change. Since the Democrats want the bill passed, then the 3 Republicans were acting in a "bipartisan" manner, the 12 Democrats who voted against it were "obstructionists," to the extent that they were reported at all.